Amidst pomp, Remi Adikwu-Bakare mounts Owu chieftaincy stool
By TESSY IGOMU

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

In Nigeria’s political landscape, Chief (Mrs.) Remi Adikwu-Bakare’s name immediately sounds an echoing chord. And in the minds of many across the length and breadth of the country, her philanthropic acts have continued to earn her prestige and honour.

Adikwu-Bakare receiving royal blessings from Oba Dosunmu




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Recently, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, literally stood still for the amiable former gubernatorial candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) in Lagos State as she was installed the Lika Aje of Owu Kingdom.


The carnival-like ceremony, which was laced with glamour, will for long continue to reverberate throughout Egbaland. At the event, political bigwigs from different parties were resplendent in their brightly coloured Ankara dresses, Tee-shirts and fez caps. Royal fathers, diplomats and top governmental officials also turned out in colourful Ankara attires specially produced for the ceremony.


At about 10.am, Chief Adikwu Bakare’s motorcade moved from Abeokuta Sports Club to the palace of the Olowu of Owu, Oba Oluwasanya Adegboyega Dosunmu.

The procession virtually grounded commercial activities in the town as people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the woman of the moment.


A few metres to the palace, Chief Adikwu Bakare disembarked from a glittering limousine to mount a chariot which carried her to the palace gate. She was accompanied by confetti ladies who strewed flowers in all directions as the chariot slowly glided to the palace.

At the palace gate, traditional guns were fired to announce her presence and she was immediately ushered to one of the king’s waiting rooms, for, at the moment, a service to mark the Olowu’s fourth anniversary on the throne was underway.


Before the installation ceremony commenced, prayers for long life, divine protection and fruitful reign were offered by a number of clerics for Oba Dosunmu.


Olori Bosun Dosunmu, the Olowu’s wife who is still a teacher, also honoured those who emerged winners in the Owu People’s Challenge, an intellectual competition organized by the Bosun Dosunmu Foundation. Three best students and schools in Abeokuta were presented with certificates by the deputy governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Sulmat Badru and her counterpart in Imo State, Mrs. Ada Okwuonu.

After the presentation, Olori Dosunmu explained that her foundation was set up to increase the intelligent quotient of students. The competition, which was initially limited to Owu area of Abeokuta, has since been enlarged to allow participation from other parts of the state, she said.


Oba Dosunmu later mounted the podium to welcome guests. In a brief speech laced with vast quotations from the Holy Bible, the monarch expressed his gratitude to God for keeping him alive to witness the day. While explaining his knowledge of the Bible, the Olowu asserted that, besides being a physical father to his subjects, his position as Oba also bestows on him the status of a spiritual patriarch.

After his speech, there was an interlude during which the monarch, his wife and chiefs donned their traditional regalia preparatory to the installation of Chief Remi Adikwu-Bakare, who, Daily Sun gathered, is the great grand-daughter of Olafakun, the first Balogun of Owu.


The event was compered by Madam Kofo of the rested Village Headmaster. The veteran thespian with the peculiar and outlandish headgear thrilled guests with her rich jokes and anecdotes which she rendered in deep, undiluted Yoruba.


Chief Remi Adikwu-Bakare was later ushered into the arena as the gbedu drums boomed. And dancing to the beats of the drums, the new chief moved with calculated steps to greet the gbedu drummers. She then danced, alongside her calabash-bearing maidens, to pay homage to the Olowu and other monarchs.

The head of the Parakoyi later placed the Akoko leaves on her head even as he mouthed traditional blessings on her. She was also presented with the Ida (symbolic sword) and other paraphernalia of office to officially cap her as the Lika Aje of Owu Kingdom.

As soon as the installation rites were over, guests were moved to the Abeokuta Sports Club, Ibara, for a lavish reception.


At the reception, guests were treated to mouth watering food and drinks served by smartly dressed ushers. Popular fuji star, Abass Akande Obesere led other musicians to entertain the excited guests.

Arik Airline luggage handler convicted of theft
Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare, Lagos -
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A luggage handler with Arik Airline, Taiwo Olaniyi, has been convicted of stealing N100,000 from a customer of the airline by Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye of the Chief Magistrate’s Court 13, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
Olaniyi, who was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony and stealing, was discharged on the conspiracy charge but was convicted of theft.


According to the prosecution, the offences are contrary to Section 516 and 383 of Criminal Code, Cap 77 and punishable under Section 390 (6) of the Criminal Code, Cap 77, Laws of the Federation 1990.


The theft happened at the Murtala Muhammed Airport on August 29, 2008.


A passenger of Arik Airline, arriving Lagos from Kaduna, had complained that his luggage was tampered with and a sum of N100,000 kept inside the luggage was missing. Immediately, security officers attached to the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), rounded up the three baggage handlers on duty who had offloaded the luggage at the arrival hall onto the conveyor belt and when interrogated, Olaniyi admitted the money was in his custody.


In her judgment, Chief Magistrate Ayeye said, “I hold that the defendant, though employed as a ground equipment handler, did join the other two people to offload the baggage of passengers on Arik Airline on the date of incident and as such had the opportunity to take and did actually tamper with the luggage of the complainant resulting in the loss of the property of the complainant, which was recovered in his possession.”

So Tpia na old cargo. Wetin she dey find for internet? Ashewo kobo kobo

Congoshiner,

You are such a pathetic slowpoke. Well, go shine some buka congos, as your name suggests.

Congoshiner,

Bode George is not alone among the ubiquitous thieving Yoruba elite. Take a look at the EFCC list, plus many more such as Agagu, Tinubu, Akala, Grange and Obj, Ehindero, among THOUSAND others who have not been listed yet. Na curse? Talking about being a Yoruba, would you recognize a lie and a teaser when you see one? Who are you for me to lie for? I am not a Yoruba and do no intend to be one, when I reincarnate. Ok?

I see that you are intellectually challenged. People like you would be lost completely if asked the same question differently. For e.g., if you are asked the functions of a manager you could answer easily, but when asked the role of a business owner you get tongue-tied.

As usual they live in denial. Ask Bode George, who single handedly stole 100 billion of our oil money. What did all the other Yorubas in positions of authority do between 1999 and today but steal, steal and steal. Thieves of a GENERIC order. Other tribes pilfer, but you guys simply loot

Congoshiner,

What makes you think I hate the Yoruba? I only tell the truth about them (that they are very corrupt, dirty, pretencious, untrustworthy, backstabbing, greedy, selfish and tribalistic). If that is what you see as hate and tribalism, then I am not in a position to help you. I must always tell the truth; so my parents told me.

Congoshiner!

Just read my English and yours, barring any typo (which is discernible) and tell between you and I who is better educated. I could be your professor, you know.

Tpia,

My dog's name is Tpia and she is Yoruba. Might that be you?

ilugunboy:

.

You are speaking jargon if what you wrote up there is meant to be Yoruba. No! we never met. . Seems to me you are already high on some cheap liquid this early evening.

At least I can speak and write in your language. What other language can you speak/write than your shity Yoruba Yoruba language?

blacksta:

Y d the userid? when u are youruba

What is the shit Yoruba? Who wants to be from that tribe?

ilugunboy:

Come Ijawman oya were ni? , why harrasing people around on N/L?

Ma fo' etire nisi! Have we met before?

tpia.:

he's not Yoruba though no big deal even if he were. Na today?

He's Igbo or Igboid.

I am your father, monkey. You decide whom I am for me? tolotolo

Hahahaha. So this buffon Congoshine created a thread to discuss me. You are indeed an idiot, I repeat. You said I was not Ijaw and I said I am Yoruba to make you happy. Does that make me a non Ijaw? I'd rather be dead than be a Yoruba. For what now?

congoshine:

Omo ale ni e then,

You mean you are a bas-tard? I pity your father who thinks he really fathered you.

Blacksta.

Now I believe you did not attend a school or you did so poorly. If you cannot differentiate between what I said and what was quoted from the chat group I lifted the post from, then it speaks volume about your educational worth. Like I said earlier, go back to school. You suck

I am Yoruba. you idiot

blacksta:

o ti se gbe - omo we re

Baba re ti ya were. Olosi

congoshine:

'Ijawman' = confirmed mugu

Your papa. Waste of sperm

blacksta:

You fool - the shit u posted says " lagos is a Nigerian city mainly built by igbos" if it mainly built by igbos then they should contest the next Gov elections -

You sound idiotic. Did I write that? Don't you read it in quote? Go back to school, you urchin.

Go to (register) naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com and follow the raging discussion.

blacksta:



i didnot know Ijaw = igbo

What does that mean? Are you insane?

Ibeme:

Richyblack, pls delete this thread.

Why the call for censorship. Isn't there freedom of expression and thought anymore?

Then this reply:

''Yoruba people should keep mute. Lagos is a Nigerian state and city that accommodates every Nigerian tribe. The bombing of Lagos by Mend is not the BOMBING of Yoruba people. Aint Yoruba people ashame and stupid to always claim Lagos to be a Yoruba Affair ? Didnt the millions of Yorubas in Lagos Migrate from interior Yoruba land such as Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and even Kwara. Do Yoruba people even know that the word APAPA as in APAPA WARF IS AN IJAW WORD meaning Ground nut warf ? Dont Yoruba people know that Lagos riverine areas have strong Ijaw historical characteritics. ? It so beats my heart to even read Yoruba people from Kwara making noise any thing Lagos is mentioned or affected, Let them wait till Ibadan is bombed before any yoruba should even make any noise. LAGOS IS A NIGERIAN CITY mainly built by IGBOS.''

Tom Alabraba.

I got the excerpt below from a yahoo chat group. What do you think?

''The unprovoked and unwarranted attack on a Lagos jetty by the MEND has lost it the sympathy of a people who felt the Niger-deltans were being unfairly treated in regard to their God given natural resource of oil.
>
> The MEND people should be reminded that it is ABUJA and not Lagos, that was built with oil money from scratch.
> The seat of government is no longer Lagos, but Abuja. Lagos is controlled by AC, which is not the party in Federal power.
>
> This is a clear case of  misdirected anger, which the MEND should have learnt from the history of the Nigerian civil war.
> It is an attack on "innocent bystanders" who do not make policy affecting the people on whose behalf MEND claims to be agitating.
>
> In view and by reason  of this attack, all interests of MEND should become targets of legitmate, swift and assured
> retribution.  MEND HAS SOWN THE WIND, IT MUST NOW REAP THE WHIRL WIND.''

adeajayi

does anyone have the rest of the story?

http://www.sunday.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=648:after-collecting-n500m-eachsenators-abba-akume-makarfi-yarima-39-others-sponsor-no-bills&catid=57:cover

After collecting N500m each:Senators Abba, Akume, Makarfi, Yarima, 39 Others Sponsor No Bills

[Senate President Mark]

Senate President Mark
*Why Northern Reps Didn’t  Sponsor Many Bills -Ndume



After spending two years and earning N500 million each, a sizeable number of senators and members of the House of Representatives have not added any value to the process of lawmaking for the country, a National Assembly mid-term report has revealed.
According to the mid-term report released by the Senate, 42 of its members have been literally warming their seats during the past two years for they have failed to solely sponsor any bill.
Prominent among senators who have fallen into this classification are the seven former state governors who are currently in the Red Chamber, none of whom was able to initiate a single bill within the period under review. These senators are George Akume (Benue), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi (Kaduna), Ahmed Rufa’i Sani (Zamfara), and Mohammed Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), who is now minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Similarly ranking senior senators like Mahmud Kanti Bello (PDP, Katsina), Simeon Ajibola (PDP, Kwara), Nuhu Aliyu (PDP, Niger), Greg Ngaji (PDP, Cross River), Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane (PDP, Kogi) James Manager (PDP, Ebonyi), Patrick Osakwe (Accord, Delta), Julius Ucha (PDP, Ebonyi), Jibril Aminu (PDP, Adamawa) and Iyiola Omisore (PDP, Osun).
Of the 202 private bills sponsored by senators, however, only eight have been passed into law. But Senate President David Mark has argued that the number of bills passed into law could not be used to judge the performance of the upper chamber.
In a parallel assessment in the House of Representatives, the House’s Rules and Business Committee has revealed that members from the southern part of the country have performed better that their counterparts from the North. However, the House’s Minority Whip, Mohammed Ali Ndume (ANPP, Borno State), dismissed the assessment, saying the number of bills sponsored by a member was not enough to determine their performance.
“It is not just enough to judge somebody by the number of bills he sponsored. There must be some indices of judging the performance of a member. Even our voting pattern contributes. If you’re not participating during votes, and you vote constructively, that should be a yardstick”, he said.
He also defended his colleagues from the North saying although many of them were introvert, when they felt so strongly as to speak on an issue, everybody had to listen.
“Nobody can make a blanket statement that the southerners are better than the northern legislators. You know that is not the truth. The Southerners in the House, with due respect to them—I am not blowing my own trumpet— know the stuff we’re made up of”, he said, adding that the performance of southern members was a mere coincidence.
Read more on pages 7 & 8

Is AIT a national news medium? I thought it was private?

IT can easily be argued that slams loot is by far the most terrible. He's a governor from an under developed state in the Niger Delta, yet he could steal the state blind. Bode George's loot has no direct impact on any single state in Nigeria. Do you know what alams money could have done for generations of Bayelsans?

Bode George is just a weasellly old man. Alams however was hailed as the 'governor-general' of ijaw land. I dunno about you clowns, but it's more shameful when your Governor general contributes heavily to the under development and poverty of his people.
Funny how MEND happily chooses not to single out Alams for condemnation. Thieves flock together, after all,

Pot of lies. With such amount, you could build or upgrade the seaports in Lagos, Warri, PH, Onne, and Calabar and that already impacts on those states, in addition to the employment generation and ease of trading that follows.

Congoshiner

Alams is not on that list. His loot has been recovered and he has been punished (served a prison term). When are the Yoruba oles going to hand in their own loot?